Relocating Breeding Slow Worms

We've had slow worms living in an overgrown area at the bottom of the garden for some years. Last autumn, under a pile of garden sacks full of grass cuttings just outside our back door, I came across a couple of the animals. I thought it best to leave them alone to over-winter and intended to move them in the spring. However, at the weekend, I found three youngish slow worms on the patio near the nest. All three had recently lost their tails, two had damage (looking like slow worm bite marks) to the head and one had blood on its face. Over the next day or so, the latter one (Alpha slow worm?) stayed near the nest and the other two stayed in the open just round the corner. None seemed worried about predators. They now appear to have gone to ground.

Now, while this is a fascinating introduction to slow worm breeding behaviour, I'm wondering when I can move them back to the safer area at the end of the garden? And is it just a matter of carefully opening the nest and carrying each one I find?

Thanks in advance.


Edited by PaulS - 09 May 2013 at 4:18pm